Aid to teaching writing



Nov. 23,1926. 1,607,775"- 4 H. E. MURRAY ET AL AID TO TEACHING WRITING Filed NOV. 10 1925 INVENTOR floberi' LL any.

BY 1 5 :5 M ATTORNEY Patented New. 23, 1926.

. UNETE STATES PATET HAROLD E. MURRAY AND ROBERT C. LANG, OF CUMIBERLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA.

AID T TEACHING WRITING.

Application filed November 10, 1825, Serial No. 68,197, and in Canada November 1 1, 1924.

This invention relates to a device designed to facilitate the teaching of children to write by what is known as the muscular movement.

Diificulty is experienced by children in complying with the requirements that the joint of the thumb must be held rigid at a certain slight angle of fiexure and that the pen must be held in a certain position in relation thereto. If, during the early lessons, the child can experience the necessity for this requirement, by being constrained to hold the thumb rigidly in the desired position, the idea is quickly appreciated by the child and later the restraint may be removed.

The invention, therefore, comprises a clip adapted to fit over the first or inter-phalangal joint of the thumb and to hold that joint in the desired position of fiexure. Connected to the inner side of this band is a relatively smaller resilient band adapted to hold the pen or pencil.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied in which:

Fig. 1 is a general View of the preferred form of the device.

Fig. 2 is an edge view showing approximately the forms of the loops or bands.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 shows the device as applied to the hand to hold the pen.

The device comprises a clip or band of metal or other suitable material adapted to encircle the first joint of the thumb. The outer side of this band is divided by an aperture or space 3 to clear the outer angle of the thumb joint and to aftord a separate bearing 2 on each part of the thumb which the joint connects.

These parts 2 are preferably angled, as shown in Fig. 3, to the desired angle of thumb fiexure. The side 4 of the clip or band is immediately opposite the interspace 3 that it may bear on the inner angle of the joint and exercise a light, resilient pressure toward the two members 2.

The free end of the portion 4 is bent to form a resilient loop 5 to receive and hold the handle of the pen.

This pen holding loop 5 is preferably made of a separate part and is pin-connected at 6 to the end of i that it may be angled in relation to the axis of the clip 2, 4.

The de ice, when applied to the thumb of a child, and the pen holder set to the desired angle, will hold the joint of the childs thumb rigidly at the desired angle, until the learner has acquired the habit of using the arm movement to form the letters in writing and not the fiexure of the fingers. When the habit is acquired of using the arm action the child quickly appreciates the requirement of holding the thumb joint rigid and the use of this aid may be dispensed wit 1.

We do not desire to be confined to the H particular form of the device as herein shown and described, but claim as our invention-- 1. A writing aid which comprises a clip adapted to encircle the thumb with the open portion of the clip upwardly, said clip including a thin strap portion adapted to press into the inner angle of the bent thumb joint, and another portion of greater width than the first mentioned portion, said other portion having an aperture to admit the outer angle of the thumb oint, said other portion adapted to engage the thumb at each side of the outer angle of the thumb joint, and

a pen holding cl p pivotally connected with the other end of the first mentioned portion of the thumb encircling clip substantially as shown and described.

2. A writing aid which comprises a clip adapted to encircle the thumb with the open portion of the clip upwardly, said clip including a thin strap portion adapted to press into the inner angle of the bent thumb joint, and another portion of greater width than the first mentioned portion, said other pori} tion having an aperture to admit the outer angle of the thumb joint, said other portion adapted to engage the thumb at each side of the outer angle of the thumb joint, and a pen holding clip pivotally connected with the other end of the first mentioned portion of the thumb encircling clip, that portion of the thumb encircling clip which is adapted to press into the inner angle of the bent thumb joint being convex in cross section where it engages the thumb, and that portion of the thumb encircling clip which engages the thumb adjacent the outer angle of the thumb joint being llat in cross section.

-3. it Writing aid, which comprises a clip adapted to resiliently enc rcle the thumb at the fir? joint one side of said clip adapted to pr or into the inner angle of the bent thui'nb joint and the outer side apertured to admit the outer angle of the thumb joint.

A Writing aid, Which comprises an open clip adapted to resiliently encircle the thumb. at the first joint one side of said clip adapted to press into the inner angle of the bent thumb joint and the outer side adapted to bear against the thumb above and below the joint.

5. A Writing aid, which comprises a clip adapted to lGSlllGIltly encircle the thumb at the first joint one side of said clip adapted to preps into the inner angle 01 the bent HAROLD E. MUR LL31". ROBERT C. LANG, 

